Table ball game with moveable circular bumper portions

ABSTRACT

The playing field of a table ball game slopes downwardly from the center toward opposite ends and the balls are put in play transverse to the playing field and substantially at the center thereof by a projector assembly. At opposite ends of the playing field electromagnet operated bumper elements are manually selectively moved on guides laterally of the playing field and interruption of light beams across the ends of the field in front of the bumper elements actuate the electromagnets to repel the ball in play toward side bumper rails or the center of the field. The bumper elements are circular and are arranged in closely adjacent pairs to provide for the repelling of the ball in play therefrom in various directions on the playing surface within a rebound angle of at least 180*.

United States Patent [191 Leonhart [451 Oct. 7, 1975 TABLE BALL GAME WITH MOVEABLE CIRCULAR BUMPER PORTIONS [76] Inventor: Xaver Leonhart, 8381 Harburg near [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 10, 1973 Germany 2345558 [52] US. Cl 273/119 A; 124/32; 273/129 [51] Int. Cl. A63D 3/02 [58] Field of Search 273/118 A, 119 A, 120 A, 273/121 A, 122 A, 123 A, 124A, 125 A, 126 A, 127 D, 129, 119 R, 120 R, 121R,

3,785,650 1/1974 Halliburton 273/122 A X 3,834,706 9/1974 Leonhart 273/122 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 530,956 8/1954 Belgium 273/119 R Primary Examiner-Richard .1. Apley Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brady, OBoyle & Gates [57] ABSTRACT The playing field of a table ball game slopes downwardly from the center toward opposite ends andthe balls are put in play transverse to the playing field and substantially at the center thereof by a projector assembly. At opposite ends of the playing field electromagnet operated bumper elements are manually selectively moved on guideslaterally of the playing field and interruption of light beams across the ends of the field in front of the bumper elements actuate the electromagnets to repel the ball in play toward side bumper rails or the center of the field. The bumper elements are circular and are arranged in closely adjacent pairs to provide for the repelling of the ball in play therefrom in various directions on the playing surface within a rebound angle of at least 180.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,910,580

US. Patent 0m. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,910,580

TABLE BALL GAME WITH MOVEABLE, CIRCULAR BUMPER PORTIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a table ball game which allows the ball to be moved in every direction on the playing field within an angle of 180 by an electromagnet operated bumper element assembly in spite of the fact that the ball projecting movement of the elect'romagnet operated assembly continues to be in the longitudinal direction of the playing field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A table ball game according to the invention is characterized by two adjacent resilient elements provided with broad circular or bumper portions at their lower ends and connected to be displaced together in a reciprocating manner, by. means of a lever on a guide, back and forth across one end of the playing area of the table game and parallel to the front sides of the game table, and further adapted to be pushed forwards by means of an electromagnet connected to the guide, whenever current is momentarilysupplied to this electromagnet as a result of an interruption of a light beam to a photocell, which beam is positioned a short distance in front of the resilient elements and is directed across the end of the playing field parallel to the guide means and the front side of the game table.

The best arrangement is provided by the displacement of the resilient elements together with their electromagnets by means of an endless flexible member, such as a cord, held by two pulley wheels, disposed parallel to the guide meansof the resilient elements, the shaft of one pulley wheel being adapted to be turned in alternate directions by a handle or knob connected thereto at aposition above the playing field or playing area.

The playing field slopes downwardly in opposite directions from the center portion of the playing area towards the opposite ends or front faces of the table game. The playing field extends to positions at each end behind the resilient elements and the end extremities of the field are provided with transverse locating stops. The side edges of the playing field are spaced from the side walls of the game table leaving broad open side spaces running the length of the table, which side spaces are covered by broad strip members having resilient inner edges which function as side bumpers for the playing field. The resilient edges on opposite sides of the playing field are spaced further apart from each other toward the center portion of the playing areaand the opposite ends terminate just in front of the, transversely directed light beams of the photocell apparatus at opposite ends of the playing field. I

To bring the played balls back into play on the playing field, a spring projector, for example, may be provided, which comprises a projecting rod with a handle and a return spring. By pulling back on the handle of the spring projector, a ball situated in front of it is propelled towards the center of the playing area via a guide groove extending longitudinally on one side of the playing field. From theguide groove the ball is directed toward the center of the playing area by means of a curved guide wall that changes the direction of the ball approximately 90.

The game is considerably improved when three uniformly laterally distributed circular bumpers, of similar construction to the resilient elements, are rigidly secured across the center of the playing area at the apex of oppositely sloping playing field portions.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following de- 'tailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The table for the game of the invention comprises a shallow rectangular box, having tapered sides 4, 5 and 6 which diverge towards the top, and which rests on a base frame 1, 2 and 3. The front sides 5 and 6 of this box or table are each covered with a narrow top. 7, 8 at the opposite ends of which large knob-type handles 9, 10, 11 and 12 project upward therethrough. Each of the handles 9-12 is located on the upper end of a shaft 13-16, each of which bears a large grooved pulley wheel.l7, 18, 19 and 20, respectively, on its lower end. Each pulley wheel 17-20 is connected by an endless flexible member, such as a cord or similar drawing element 21, 22, 23 and 24 to a small grooved pulley wheel 25, 26, 27 and 28. All the pulley wheels 17-20 and 25-28 are arranged in such a way that a part of each of the endless cords 21-24 runs parallel to the front side 5,6 of the game table or parallel to the guide rods 29,30 mounted at opposite ends of the playing field below the inner edges of the top boards 7 and 8 and connected laterally across the table between the table sides Two pairs of resilient elements 31, 32, each possessing a circular bumper portion 33 on their lower ends are mounted on each of the guide rods 29,30 so as to be longitudinally displaceable therealong. A pair of the resilient elements 31,32 is connected in front of each electromagnet 34 and 35 which functions to reciprocate the resilient elements 31,32 towards the center 36 of the playing area 37 when current is passed therethrough. An arm 34 connects each assembly of electromagnets and pair of resilient elements 31,32to a respective one of the endless cords 21-24 so that the assembly is moved laterally back and forth on its guide rod 29 or 30 by manipulation of the appropriate knob 9, 10, 11 or 12.

The playing field 37 which only possesses the width 38 and is thus considerably narrower than the mean width of the table box 4, is located centrally within the box between the side walls 4. It extends in length to behind the resilient elements 3l,32, and its laterally extending ends are provided with locating stops 39,40, which form a ball stop on each end of the playing field. The open lateral spaces between the longitudinal side edges of the playing field 37 and the table sides 4 are in part covered by broad side strip members 41 and 42, which have resilient inner edges .54 and 55, respectively, thereon, facing the playing field, and since members 41 and 42 are elevated above the surface of the playing field 37, as indicated in FIG. 1, the resilient edges 54 and 55 function as side rail bumpers for balls in play on the playing field. The resilient side edges 54 and 55 are spaced further apart from each other at the center 36 of the playing field and then slightly converge toward each other from the center of the field toward opposite ends of the field as shown in FIG. 2. The opposite ends of the side strip members 41 and 42 terminate just in front of the photocells 43 supported by side members 4 and connected to receive a light beam di rected laterally across the playing field, at ball level, from a light source on the opposite side member 4.

The light beams to photocells 43 are positioned a short distance in front of the resilient elements 31,32 carried by the electromagnets 34 and 35, and by circuitry, not shown, the photocells are connected to energize the electromagnets 34 and 35, to push the resilient elements 31,32 toward the center of the playing field to repel any ball which might contact them, when the adjacent light beam is broken or interrupted by a ball rolling down the table from the center 36 toward the end of the playing field. In this connection the playing field 37'slopes downwardly in opposite directions from the center 36 of the playing area towards the stops 39 and 40 on opposite ends of the playing field.

Balls which fall into one of the free or open spaces 44, 45, 46 or 47 are caused to roll along a groove, not shown, toward a ball projector assembly having a projector handle 48 or 49. By pulling back and releasing the spring-loaded handle 48 or 49 a ball is propelled longitudinally of the playing field, forwardly along a groove 50 or 51 towards the deflection surfaces 52 or 53. From the deflection surfaces 52,53, which change the direction of a ball by 90, the balls move to the center 36 of the playing area.

If, during the game, a ball rolls through the light beam of a photocell 43, the two eleetromagnets 34 and 35, located on the side adjacent to the light beam, respond and move in a jerky manner towards the center 36 of the playing area. Depending on which part of the two resilient elements 31,32, the ball strikes, it will move straight into the playing field or strike against the side strips 41-42, at any particular angle, and be repelled by the resilient bumper edges 54,55 of the same, whereupon, it rolls past the fixed bumper stops 56-58 or else moves to another point on the playing field 37 when it is repelled by the stops 56-58. 1f the ball misses the resilient elements it then rolls through the free spaces 4447 away from the playing field 37 and can only be returned to the game by the activation of one of the handles 48 or 49 of the ball spring projector assemblics.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used'as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A table ball game comprising a playing surface having opposite ends, guide means connected substantially parallel with and adjacent to at least one of said opposite ends of said playing surface, a pair of resilient elements, a circular bumper portion connected to the lower end of each of said resilient elements, common means connected for back and forth movement on said guide means, the circular bumper portions which are connected to the lower ends of said pair of resilient elements being connected through said pair of resilient elements so as to be adjacent each other in side by side relation on said common means and positioned inwardly of the end of the playing surface and presenting a ball rebound surface of greater than I", control means connected to said common means to move said pair of resilient elements and circular bumper portions back and forth on said guide means, photocell circuit means connected to said table ball game and adapted to direct a light beam transversely across at least one of the opposite ends of said playing surface parallel with said guide means and positioned in front of the pair of circular bumper portions, and an electromagnet connected to the pair of circular bumper portions and with said photocell circuit means, said electromagnet providing means for moving said circular bumper portions forwardly when the light beam is momentarily interrupted, at least one game ball to be projected by said circular bumper portions, said circular bumper portions being spaced sufficiently close together to project said ball when positioned between the pair of circular bumper portions longitudinally of said playing surface when said circular bumper portions are moved forwardly by the action of said photocell circuit means and said electromagnet, and said circular bumper portions when so moved further being so shaped and positioned to project said ball when contacting the circular bumper portions off center thereof to various directions on the playing surface within a rebound angle of at least 2. A table ball game as set forth in claim 1, in which said control means includes at least a pair of pulleys connected on respective shafts, an endless flexible element connected around said pair of pulleys and having a portion disposed parallel with said guide means, a handle connected to the shaft of one of said pulleys to move said endless flexible element, and said electromagnet, pair of resilient elements, said circular bumper portions and common means connected to said endless flexible element and adapted to be moved back and forth above the playing surface on said guide means by said handle.

3. A table ball game as set forth in claim 1, in which said playing surface slopes downwardly toward'said opposite ends from the center portion thereof, said opposite ends of the playing surface extending behind said resilient elements and circular bumper portions, and a laterally extending raised stop element connected across each of said opposite ends.

4. A table ball game as set forth in claim 3, including a support table having side walls, said playing surface positioned between said side walls and having side edges spaced a substantial distance from said side walls forming open ball receiving strips between said side walls and the edges of the playing surface, longitudinally extending side strips connected between said side walls and playing surface and overlying the latter and covering the medial portion of said open strips and terminating at opposite ends inwardly of the photocell circuit means directing said light beams providing open side ball receiving strips between the. terminating ends of said side strips and the ends of the playing surface, and said side strips having inner resilient edges spaced further from each other toward the center of said playing surface. 

1. A table ball game comprising a playing surface having opposite ends, guide means connected substantially parallel with and adjacent to at least one of said opposite ends of said playing surface, a pair of resilient elements, a circular bumper portion connected to the lower end of each of said resilient elements, common means connected for back and forth movement on said guide means, the circular bumper portions which are connected to the lower ends of said pair of resilient elements being connected through said pair of resilient elements so as to be adjacent each other in side by side relation on said common means and positioned Inwardly of the end of the playing surface and presenting a ball rebound surface of greater than 180*, control means connected to said common means to move said pair of resilient elements and circular bumper portions back and forth on said guide means, photocell circuit means connected to said table ball game and adapted to direct a light beam transversely across at least one of the opposite ends of said playing surface parallel with said guide means and positioned in front of the pair of circular bumper portions, and an electromagnet connected to the pair of circular bumper portions and with said photocell circuit means, said electromagnet providing means for moving said circular bumper portions forwardly when the light beam is momentarily interrupted, at least one game ball to be projected by said circular bumper portions, said circular bumper portions being spaced sufficiently close together to project said ball when positioned between the pair of circular bumper portions longitudinally of said playing surface when said circular bumper portions are moved forwardly by the action of said photocell circuit means and said electromagnet, and said circular bumper portions when so moved further being so shaped and positioned as to project said ball when contacting the circular bumper portions off center thereof to various directions on the playing surface within a rebound angle of at least 180*.
 2. A table ball game as set forth in claim 1, in which said control means includes at least a pair of pulleys connected on respective shafts, an endless flexible element connected around said pair of pulleys and having a portion disposed parallel with said guide means, a handle connected to the shaft of one of said pulleys to move said endless flexible element, and said electromagnet, pair of resilient elements, said circular bumper portions and common means connected to said endless flexible element and adapted to be moved back and forth above the playing surface on said guide means by said handle.
 3. A table ball game as set forth in claim 1, in which said playing surface slopes downwardly toward said opposite ends from the center portion thereof, said opposite ends of the playing surface extending behind said resilient elements and circular bumper portions, and a laterally extending raised stop element connected across each of said opposite ends.
 4. A table ball game as set forth in claim 3, including a support table having side walls, said playing surface positioned between said side walls and having side edges spaced a substantial distance from said side walls forming open ball receiving strips between said side walls and the edges of the playing surface, longitudinally extending side strips connected between said side walls and playing surface and overlying the latter and covering the medial portion of said open strips and terminating at opposite ends inwardly of the photocell circuit means directing said light beams providing open side ball receiving strips between the terminating ends of said side strips and the ends of the playing surface, and said side strips having inner resilient edges spaced further from each other toward the center of said playing surface. 